Flood Resilience Handbook for Public Access Sites Along the Hudson River from Troy to Yonkers

A resource to help managers of river access sites to assess risk and adapt to changing coastal conditions.

Addressing flood risk at river access sites

The Flood Resilience Handbook was produced to provide flood resilience guidance to managers of access sites on the tidal Hudson, including waterfront parks, boat launches, picnic spots, swimming beaches, fishing areas, and scenic vistas. Resilient river access sites are designed and maintained with climate risks in mind. Resilient techniques can reduce flood damage, lower maintenance costs, increase public access, and enhance wildlife habitat.

The Flood Resilience Handbook:

  • brings awareness to the unique risks faced by Hudson River access sites.
  • shares how the Hudson is and will experience flooding as the climate changes.
  • outlines a process for planning, selecting, permitting, and funding resilience strategies at river access sites.
  • provides guidelines and additional resources for flood resiliency.
  • shares case studies from sites that are addressing flooding and climate resiliency on the Hudson River.

The handbook provides information on:

  • conducting risk assessments
  • community engagement
  • site design
  • land use laws
  • applying for permits
  • funding your project

Professional advice for access site managers

Based on the Design and Planning for Flood Resiliency: Guidelines for NYC Parks, the Handbook was adapted by WSP for the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC. More information about Hudson River access and the Flood Resilience Handbook can be found at https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5088.html

Download the handbook

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